Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Papua New Guinea

😐 Solo nomad: United States is 25.1% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 85.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: United States is 39.6% more expensive than Papua New Guinea without rent, and 96.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.97 $19.97
$7.68 PGK 33.39
160.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.7 $74.7
$48.05 PGK 209
55.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.40 $11.40
$6.01 PGK 26.15
89.68%
Cappuccino
$5.37 $5.37
$2.39 PGK 10.39
124.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 $2.63
$0.86 PGK 3.74
205.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.75 PGK 3.25
174.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.90 $5.90
$2.95 PGK 12.84
100.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 $7.02
$4.60 PGK 19.99
52.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 $1.09
$1.90 PGK 8.28
-42.63%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.54 PGK 6.70
130.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.48 PGK 6.43
219.59%
Eggs
$4.30 $4.30
$3.87 PGK 16.83
11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 $13.01
$6.10 PGK 26.55
113.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.22 $12.22
$6.68 PGK 29.04
82.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.36 $16.36
$9.12 PGK 39.66
79.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$4.06 PGK 17.66
28.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$2.81 PGK 12.20
-39.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$4.66 PGK 20.25
-1.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 $4.97
$3.90 PGK 16.95
27.44%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$3.26 PGK 14.18
-8.59%
Onion (1kg)
$3.04 $3.04
$2.51 PGK 10.91
21.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$2.86 PGK 12.44
-20.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.17 $2.17
$1.06 PGK 4.61
104.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.83 $9.83
$6.58 PGK 28.60
49.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.17 $15.17
$11.56 PGK 50.3
31.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$2.63 PGK 11.45
-27.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$3.57 PGK 15.51
0.28%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.46 PGK 1.99
441.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.1 $66.1
$28.19 PGK 123
134.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.82 $3.82
$5.37 PGK 23.36
-28.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.49 PGK 10.84
-28.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.48 $29.48
$17.09 PGK 74.3
72.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.08 PGK 4.72
-15.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$24.3K PGK 105.6K
21.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$31.3K PGK 136.1K
-16.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 $206
$101 PGK 440
103.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$56.9 $56.9
$49.31 PGK 214
15.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.8 $72.8
$212 PGK 920
-65.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.23 $45.23
$63.9 PGK 278
-29.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.84 $21.84
$12.20 PGK 53.1
79.02%
Cinema Ticket
$13.79 $13.79
$9.87 PGK 42.93
39.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,355 $1,355
$441 PGK 1,917
207.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.6K $22.6K
$4,036 PGK 17.6K
458.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3 $51.3
$35.90 PGK 156
42.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.37 $42.37
$36.17 PGK 157
17.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 $88.6
$66.8 PGK 291
32.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$66.0 PGK 287
74.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,763 $1,763
$3,146 PGK 13.7K
-43.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,432 $1,432
$471 PGK 2,048
204.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,827 $2,827
$3,173 PGK 13.8K
-10.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,358 $2,358
$723 PGK 3,147
225.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,391 $3,391
$2,645 PGK 11.5K
28.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,614 $2,614
$3,986 PGK 17.3K
-34.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Papua New Guinea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,326 $4,326
$402 PGK 1,750
975.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
12.75
-48.94%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for United States: March 3, 2026

Last update for Papua New Guinea: March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated January 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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